NFLPA releases statement supporting Williams, McBean

Douglas LeeMar 13, 2012 11:30 AM

The NFLPA has released a statement in support of D.J. Williams and Ryan McBean, who are facing suspensions for violations of the league's drug policy:

The NFLPA is disappointed by the decisions in the cases of Ryan McBean and D.J. Williams. Despite substantial evidence of breaches in the collection protocol and other procedural irregularities, the NFL decided to punish these players without judicious review of the facts. The League-appointed hearing officer then affirmed the discipline, even though the specimen collector was fired by his agency for not following procedures. The NFL also failed to produce the sample collector as a witness during the players' appeals hearing.

The NFLPA and NFL have been negotiating a new and comprehensive Substances of Abuse and Steroids policies. The facts in these two cases and in recent cases in other sports, dramatically underscore the players' insistence to have independent, neutral arbitrators as part of any future policy. We will continue to fight for a fair, clean and safe game.

Especially given that McBean is entering free-agency. If the NFL is found at fault in this, the civil damages could be extensive.

Posted by John Hilton on 2012-03-13 15:29:43

This isn't surprising at all, but I'm interested to find out what basis the NFL has for accepting these conclusions given the firing of the sample collector for incompetence. 6 games is a very harsh punishment, so I'm assuming that the league believes it had just cause. The facts released so far wouldn't support that - perhaps there's more that will come out. Either way, an independent company handling this is only sensible. The league shouldn't be fighting with their own personnel's problems and then ignoring that in suspending players (especially 1st time offenders like McBean) without substantial cause.